Description

This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of robot-assisted intensive physiotherapy on trunk control, posture, and activities of daily living in individuals with spinal cord injury. A total of 52 participants will be randomly allocated to either an experimental group or a control group using computer-generated randomization. Both groups will receive treatment for 8 weeks, with 45-minute sessions provided 7 days per week. Participants in the experimental group will receive robot-assisted physiotherapy using the Robogait robotic gait training system 3 days per week and trunk-focused conventional physiotherapy 4 days per week. Participants in the control group will receive trunk-focused conventional physiotherapy 7 days per week. The conventional physiotherapy program will include warm-up and cool-down exercises and an individualized exercise program primarily targeting trunk control and balance. The program may include posterior pelvic tilt exercises, active and active-assisted lower-extremity range-of-motion exercises, lower-extremity exercises against gravity, static and dynamic sitting balance exercises, weight-shifting activities, and balance exercises performed using a balance board and exercise ball, individualized according to each participant's functional status. During robot-assisted physiotherapy sessions, participants will undergo gait training using the Robogait robotic gait training system. Following a 5-minute warm-up, robotic gait training will be performed for approximately 35 minutes, followed by a 5-minute cool-down. Body-weight support, robotic assistance, and gait speed will be individualized according to each participant's clinical and functional status. Assessments will be performed at baseline, at the end of week 4, and at the end of week 8. Evaluations will include trunk control and balance, posture, activities of daily living, muscle strength, and muscle tone.